Frequently Asked Mentor Questions

What does a mentor do?

A mentor volunteers an hour each week to meet with a student. Mentor and student pursue activities that are mutually enjoyable -- things like reading, playing board games, and doing arts and crafts. During these meetings, a mentor offers support, guidance, and encouragement. The adult accepts responsibility for being on time, prepared, and positive. Mentor and student focus on building a positive relationship, which is founded on trust.

 

I’m not very good at English, Math, or Science. Can I be a mentor?

You don't need special academic skills to be a mentor. Mentoring is not tutoring. Though you may choose to fit in some academic assistance during or after your regular mentoring sessions, mentoring time is all about fostering a close relationship with the student that you meet each week. While founded on trust, these relationships really blossom with good doses of fun.

 

How frequently do mentors and young people get together? Where do they meet? For how long?

Mentors and students meet for one hour each week, usually after school. They meet on school grounds or engage in up to nine off-campus activities, which are governed by Grand Area Mentoring's off-campus policy and always include another adult. If you can’t commit to meeting with your mentee regularly, GrandAM might not be the best volunteer option for you.

 

How long am I expected to commit to the mentoring relationship?

New mentors are required to commit for a year. Grand Area Mentoring provides dependable adults to students who sometimes lack consistency. Positive impact of a mentoring relationship is directly correlated to match length. The longer a relationship lasts, the better it is for the student.

 

What sorts of activities do mentors and young people do together?

You may play board games, read, or do puzzles with your mentee. You might want to show him or her a website or demonstrate a craft that you have mastered. Maybe your mentee wants to practice catching a football. Or perhaps your mentee enjoys Magic and wants to teach you how to play. Mentors and students engage in the world. There’s a lot to talk about, play, learn, research, ponder, and discover. As long as it’s appropriate to the school environment, it’s included in our mission.

 

How do I get the relationship started? Does GrandAM help me?

First, you attend GrandAM's mentor orientation. At this training, you learn about mentoring best practices and gain a host of mentoring activity ideas. After fully completing the application process, the relationship starts with a facilitated first meeting. The mentor coordinator goes over some programatic details and then facilitates an activity or two. Typically the mentor and student spend the second half of the first session playing a game or doing arts and crafts. The getting-to-know-you process is done in a fun and relaxed manner. Thoughout your relationship, GrandAM offers support and drop-in assistance.

 

How old are the young people I would be likely to mentor? What are they like?

GrandAM students range from kindergarten (5 years old) through twelfth grade (17 years old). A new volunteer chooses an general age group from which their mentee will be selected. We have students of all ages waiting for mentors. These students are as diverse as the Grand County community in their desires, backgrounds, and personalities. GrandAM focuses on supporting students who need it most, whether it’s for academics, social difficulties, bullying, or some other challenge. Each participating student wants a mentor, and their parent or guardian must give permission.

 

Do you train and prepare the students too?

GrandAM prepares students to be mentored with orientation and training sessions. Each student is familiar with program policies and procedures, including reporting and personal safety requirements such as repoprting inappropriate mentor conduct. GrandAM helps students understand that mentoring while also helping them know what to expect during mentoring sessions.

 

What happens if I run into a problem with a young person?

If you have any concerns or questions about your relationship with a student, contact GrandAM staff. Megan McGee, the mentor coordinator, can be reached at 260-9645. Daniel McNeil, Program Director, can be reached at 260-9646. Staff will help you solve the challenge at hand. Megan and Dan are always ready to give advice, support, and feedback regarding effective mentoring practices and fruitful relationships. Still, if there is an insoluble clash of personalities, which is extremely rare, we will close your relationship and re-match you and the student. However, please remember this Japanese proverb: “A calm sea does not a skilled sailor make.” You and your mentee will benefit from overcoming hurdles along the way.

 

How will I know if I am making a difference?

You look for little things. Your mentee smiles at your more than he or she used to. Your mentee asks what you're going to do during your next session. One of your mentee's friends wants to join you. The difference you make is measured by the trust your mentee has in you. If you have a healthy friendship, that is success. If you have fun, that is success. This is a program about letting better citizens find themselves and rediscover their world through interaction with you, our adults and leaders. By just showing up, you will be making a difference.

Mentoring is not a sprint. You will probably see a slow development of trust and interest in your relationship. Over the course of a year, your mentee will begin to open up and have a higher attachment to school (like school more, in other words). Since mentoring is more like running a marathon than running a mile, just remember it’s not about making massive strides right now; it’s about making many small strides for a year. Small steps, little improvements in social skillsand your relationship is all it takes. If you show up, are ready to have fun, and care about our students, you will invariably make a difference.

 

How soon will I be matched with a youth?

The matching and youth intake process takes some time. After your mentor orientation training, GrandAM will take up to four weeks to match you with a student. Care and investment in set-up time is what will help make your relationship with our youth and the GrandAM program successful.

 

How do I become a mentor?

1. Learn More.

2. Submit an application. Applications can be found HERE. or you can call Dan at 260-9646 to request an application packet be mailed to you. Once complete, please send the application to:

Grand Area Mentoring

264 South 400 East

Moab, UT  84532

3. Following invitation to participate, attend the orientation and training session.

Learn about mentoring in Moab. GrandAM will give you tools, strategies, and activities that will make mentoring fun and simple. Along the way you will learn about the schools, develop new skills, and meet nice people.

4. Meet Dan and Megan for an interview.

This is a short interview that helps the GrandAM staff learn more about you and match you with the appropriate student.

5. Meet your student mentee.

Once you have passed all the application steps, you and your mentee will meet with Megan, the program coordinator, at school for the first time. After you’ve set up a schedule and gone over some program policy, it’s all about getting to know your mentee and letting him or her know you.

6. Have fun.

 

Do you need references or to conduct a background check on me?

To ensure we choose the best volunteers possible, we need three personal references, and the school district will also conduct a fingerprint background check.